Find buses from London to Exeter

When leaving on the bus to Exeter from London, you will have the chance of two main bus stations to depart from, namely London Victoria or Heathrow Airport Bus Station. Both bus stations use the same bus companies for the journey, but London Victoria Station generally has more daily trips. You can reach it on the purple tube line from Piccadilly or Kings Cross stations. It is a large transportation hub filled with shops and great amenities to stock up for the journey. When you arrive in Exeter, you will disembark at Sidwell Stop, which is based in downtown Exeter. There are several buses that can take you further into the city, in a couple of minutes, such as the number 55, 5C and 5A. Taxis are always available if you are based further out of the city.

With your trip on the bus from London to Exeter, you will choose from two national bus carriers, namely Megabus and National Express. Both are highly experienced and well equipped; you can rest assured that you will have a comfortable chair with great legroom, to stretch out. You can recline for sleeping and adjust the individualised air conditioning to your needs. You can also charge your devices, and free Wifi is a great bonus if you would like to work, surf the internet or catch up on some series. Both bus companies offer well-maintained restrooms and a snack service for a fee.

When catching the bus from London to Exeter, you will find that both Megabus and National Express have a generous check-in luggage allowance of 44 lbs. This can apply to one large suitcase or two smaller ones. You also get one piece of hand luggage, such as a laptop case or rucksack, which will not be weighed. If you would like to bring a fold-up stroller or a wheelchair on the bus, the driver will try to fit it inside the bus. This space cannot be reserved and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to buy extra luggage space, you can do so by contacting the bus company beforehand. Please note that only one extra piece will be allowed.

Because your journey from London to Exeter is considered regional by the bus companies, you will not need a passport to board the bus, but bring some photographic identification. You can use a digital or hard copy of your ticket to board. The trip itself can take anywhere between 3h 30min and 5 hours, so eating a good meal beforehand is always a good idea. Alternatively, fill up on snacks at one of the great shops at Victoria or Heathrow Station. If you don’t have the time to grab a bite to eat, you will be able to pick up snacks on board. A pillow for sleeping, some good multimedia or an E-book is advised for entertainment.

You will be lucky with both National Express and Megabus when it comes to service animals, as both companies have a friendly tolerance towards working animals. You can have them travel alongside you as long as their paperwork is updated and states their inoculation history. They will need to be harnessed with their name and duty marked clearly. National Express is the only bus company servicing this journey that allows for domestic pets to travel on the bus with you. As long as the animal is small enough to fit into a cage that sits at your feet, you can bring your furry friend along for the ride.

It takes 4h 10m to get from London to Exeter by bus. For this route, you may experience slight differences in travel time depending on the bus you book. Look for nonstop options when searching if possible. Consider National Express for the quickest available option to your destination.

FlixBus, Megabus, and National Express will take you from London to Exeter. FlixBus has been recently found as the cheapest option from £20 return.

While Exeter is 157.3 mi from London, the distance by bus is longer and depends on the route taken. The bus usually takes 4h 10m in normal traffic conditions.

At 2h 09m, choosing to opt for a train from London to Exeter for this trip as opposed to a flight from London to Exeter or a bus from London to Exeter can save you time on travel.

Planning to book a bus from London to Exeter can be a safe bet when looking for a low-cost deal to your destination. Currently, a flight and a train are priced higher than the cost of a bus. You can search prices for a flight from London starting at £199 to Exeter or a train from London to Exeter starting at £40 if that is your preferred method of transportation.